Daily Experience
This National Historic Landmark resides on Dakota homeland, at the confluence of the two rivers known as Bdote, with history spanning 10,000 years. Here, the stories and experiences of many people converge and collide, and continue to unfold today.
Present - June 6, 2025
The Plank Museum & Visitor Center is open all year, Thursdays through Saturdays, and admission includes the Many Voices, Many Stories, One Place exhibit, orientation film, and Fort 101 tours to the historic fort, weather permitting. Purchase tickets on site.
Fort 101 guided tours take place three times daily on Thursdays and Fridays at 10:30 am, 12:30 pm, and 2:30 pm, and five times daily on Saturdays at 10:30 am, 11:30 pm, 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm.
Outside access to the historic fort is by Fort 101 tours only and dependent upon the weather. The tour will be offered as needed from the comfort of our visitor center. Make sure to wear appropriate footwear and dress for the weather for outdoor tours.
June 7 to August 31*
Admission can be purchased at the Plank Museum & Visitor Center, the front gate of the historic fort, or online. The visitor center is open most Wednesdays through Sundays from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm. This building includes the Many Voices, Many Stories, One Place exhibit, site orientation film, additional historic displays, and the gift shop.
The historic fort is open most Wednesdays through Sundays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The fort is open to explore at your own pace. You may also join a brief tour included with site admission and/or choose to join an add-on tour (see below) for a nominal surcharge.
15-minute Fort 101 tours are offered at 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30.
Scheduled historic demonstrations take place throughout the day:
- Flag raising: 10:15
- Rifle demonstration & marching: 11:00 & 2:00
- Historic baseball game: 12:00
- Relay race (Wed-Fri)/Artillery talk (Sat-Sun): 1:00
- Flag lowering: 3:45
*Excludes July 4th
"What Do I See?" activity sheets for ages 3-10
What do you see and what can you find at Historic Fort Snelling? Look for unexpected items on our two activity sheets, one for within the fort walls and another for pathways and grounds outside. Sheets are available at the Admissions desk inside the Visitor Center when you check in. When completed, bring one or both sheets back to the Visitor Center and get it stamped! Children must be accompanied by adults.
Add-on tours
On most Saturdays and Sundays from June 7-August 31, 2025* we offer three tours with different content interests for an additional $6. These tours are available in addition to site admission and must be purchased on-site only.
Fort Kids: Saturdays and Sundays at 11:30 am
Children and their families can participate in a fun, interactive and engaging exploration of history at Historic Fort Snelling. Be a part of a bucket brigade as part of the fort's first fire department. Learn how soldiers at the fort would have shopped. Be part of a cannon crew and learn how to march as the soldiers did. Designed for ages 6-12 but all ages are welcome!
Garrison Life Tour: Saturdays at 1:30 pm
How did a military post function as a community and what did the fort's residents do each day? What did they eat? Where did they live? Learn about the lives of soldiers and their families and enslaved people at the post and hear some of their stories. During your tour, you'll also see a weapons firing demonstration.
African Americans at Fort Snelling Tour: Sundays 1:30 pm
This tour focuses on African American history at Fort Snelling from the fort’s inception in 1819 through the end of the 19th century. This includes the stories of enslaved people brought to the fort—many of whom fought for their freedom in court—including Dred and Harriet Scott. The tour also explores the history of the 25th Infantry, who were stationed at Fort Snelling in the 1880s, and their regimental band, whose performance innovations are still used by the Army today.
*excluding June 28